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4 apps to keep your daughter safe

By Steve Fox, Digital First Media

Posted:
01/15/2014 10:08:39 AM MST

Updated:
01/15/2014 03:13:03 PM MST

(Thinkstock)

During Christmas vacation, I found myself sitting next to my 13-year-old daughter during dinner with my parents, brother and sisters. All together, there were about 10 of us. Part way through dinner, she leaned over, whispered into my ear and said she wanted to show me her “anti-rape” app.

I'm slowly learning how to keep a neutral face when my kids hit me with jaw-dropping comments, but needless to say, it was not a comment I was expecting from my daughter.

But, it certainly got me to thinking.

As a single, divorced dad, I still think of her as my “little girl,” but our ongoing conversations about safety have now entered a new arena.

First up is dispelling the idea that there is “anti-rape” technology. It's a balancing act type of conversation that requires knocking down many myths out there. There are plenty of articles out there using the phrase “anti-rape,” but it's wrong. Most women activists will say the only real way to prevent rape is to teach boys and men not to do it.

And, that's true. But, I can let her know that there are many tools out there for personal safety. They include pepper spray and making sure to travel in groups of friends, but there are also a variety of personal safety apps available, many of them with GPS technology. Here's a sampling of what's out there:

The concept is built on friends “watching” out for you. The app is aimed at college students (but could also be used for high schoolers) and allows users to tap twice on the screen for “911” or the campus police. What I like about this app is the “watch my back” feature where the user pre-programs in a specific time. So, if you're not back from a date within two hours, an alarm goes off. If the user doesn't shut off the alert, emails and texts will be sent out to the pre-selected group of friends.

There are several YWCA apps out there, but this one – developed by YWCA Singapore – seems to be the most up-to-date. What I like about this app is that when you're on the “safety alert” page, a simple shake of the phone will send out a loud shrilling noise, which would hopefully draw the attention of those around the person in trouble. At the same time, emails and texts are sent out, notifying those on your pre-set list of where you are and that you're in trouble. There is also an educational component for young women. The “know your worth” tab features a true-false quiz that includes questions like, “I feel that no one would notice if I disappeared completely.”

I guess I should no longer be surprised by technology, but the GPS technology on this app allows your friends (deemed “guardians”) to follow you on the way home from a date – or track you during a jog. Pretty cool. Another unique feature is the “fake call” option – which you can trigger on your phone if you need to get out of a bad situation.

This has the almost-standard features – mentioned above – of sounding a siren and sending out alerts to friends and authorities when you feel you are in danger, but also offers the ability to take and send photos in “non-threatening” emergencies to contacts and authorities. You can see that function being used in any number of situations, like photos of your car accident for insurance companies and police.

Is it paranoia to have my daughters load one of these apps on their phone? I don't think so. But, at the same time it's just one of many tools they should be using as they start thinking about their personal safety.

What I like about most of the technologies out there is the GPS tracking, as well as establishing the notion that you are developing a circle of friends that will help look after and keep track of you. Educators and rape activists across the country are working at developing “bystander education” programs in an effort to raise awareness about violence against women and trying to erase the idea of standing by and doing nothing.

Many of these apps work and extend on that concept, and that alone is worth having your daughter download one of these apps.

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